Puppies & Pit Stops: Packing the Perfect Dog Road Trip Supplies
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What to Bring for Your Dog-Friendly Road Trip
Whether your dog will be traveling in the car with you for a few hours or a few days, these dog road trip supplies will help make the trip more comfortable and safer for your pup. By having the correct gear with you, you will be able to avoid last-minute, expensive purchases on the road and unexpected delays. Your dog will be more comfortable and will appreciate the extra steps you have taken to make the trip more enjoyable for them. Bringing your dog with you on your travels can be a great experience for both of you as long as you are set up for success.
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If you would like more help on how to prep for your next dog-friendly vacation, be sure to read the post on Travel Tips to Vacation With Your Dog including what behaviors you want to have your dog brush up on!
Before Your Trip
Before you leave on your trip, make sure to check weather conditions so you can plan accordingly. This way you will know if you will need to prepare for rain, cold, or hot weather.
Double-check to make sure that your destination is still dog-friendly and if they have any restrictions that would affect your plans. Keep in mind that it is best to check the actual location for the most updated information. Other sites might not be immediately aware of policy changes. Some travel plans will also require proof of vaccinations.
Tentatively plan the ‘dog stops’ along the way. This will be dependent on your pet’s bathroom and/or energy needs. It can make it easier to consolidate stops if you have an idea of what and when things will be needed, especially if there is a scheduled itinerary to stick to.
Make sure your dog’s tags and microchips are updated and that you have a recent picture of your pup with you in case you get separated. Remington’s Pup Memory Passport is a great way to make sure you have all the important information and up-to-date photos with you when you are on the road.
You may also want to consider getting something like the FitBark GPS Tracker for your pet just in case they get lost. A GPS tracker is perfect for pet owners who have dogs that love to try to go on solo adventures or if you are traveling with children or adults who aren’t used to making sure a dog is safely contained at all times.
Dog Supplies for Your Road Trip
Water and Travel Bowls– Make sure you have plenty of water and bowls to put it in! When you think you have enough water, grab one more just to be safe.
Food and Treats– If you are going to be gone during mealtime, be sure to pack dinner! Bring extra good treats for rewards and recall while on the road to reward your dog for listening to you.
Medicine– Take any medication that is needed. This could also include anxiety, allergy, or painkillers if recommended by your vet.
Poop bags– Be responsible and clean up after your pup. This will ensure that more places remain dog-friendly and you won’t get fined.
First Aid Kit– Read the DIY Dog First Aid Kit post to see what you should add to your own First Aid Kit to make sure you have what you would need for your pooch.
Cargo Liner– This will protect the car’s interior from any dirt or mud found on the trip. It will also limit the amount of dog hair to be vacuumed up in the car.
Window shades– If you don’t have tinted windows, you might want to consider getting window shades to keep your pet a bit cooler in the back of your car. Limiting the amount of sun that shines on your vehicle can make quite a difference.
Dog Bed/Pillows– Use these to fill in any dips so your dog can lie down comfortably.
Seatbelts/barrier– Depending on how your car is set up, getting dog seatbelts or a barrier to keep them safely in the back could make the drive safer for everyone in the car.
Towel and Wipes– It is always good to have an extra towel and pet-safe wipes on a trip because you never know what your dog may find or get into.
Back-up harness/leash– This is listed in the DIY Dog First Aid Kit, but it is very important to have extra in case they break or get lost for some reason.
Toys– Have something on hand to keep your dog busy and help burn away some of the built-up energy from being in a car for several hours.
Time to Hit the Road
Depending on your vehicle and your dog, you may not need all of these items. As you travel more and more with your pup, you will develop a better idea of what extra things they may need or like to make the trip more enjoyable. You will also learn how often you should plan to stop for bathroom breaks and walks to keep their energy level down and stretch their legs.
No matter how much your dog may behave at home, please be extra careful when traveling. One moment of distraction for them can lead to unimaginable consequences especially when in unfamiliar territory or on busy roads. Remember no dog is perfect all the time, so be extra careful when traveling!
We invite you to join our Facebook group for Traveling Pet Owners for a safe space to ask questions and get ideas on how to make traveling with your pets a positive experience.
Remember to subscribe to our community in order to get your Dog Road Trip Supplies checklist!
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As a former dog owner, I’m impressed with such a comprehensive list. You’ve thought of everything. (And that’s one happy dog on your PIN!)
Thank you! We frequently travel with our dogs and have gotten to know what they need to be more comfortable on our trips 🙂
I would love to go on a road trip with my dog at some point! These are all great tips on what to bring.
Thanks! Our dogs make our trips way more entertaining! LOL
Great post! My husband and I recently got a puppy and we are hoping to travel with her more when she gets older. I’ll definitely be referencing this post in the future! Thank you 🙂
Thank you! You will have so much fun 🙂 Congrats on the puppy!!
Great tips for traveling with your dog. I wish everyone would follow your advice to have their dog microchipped with updated tags whether they are traveling or not!
Updated tags would help many a lost pup!
It’s that time of year to get ready for my favorite vacations… roadtrips and I love bringing my best friend with me! Great tips and advice! Thank you!
I love traveling with our pups!
Aw I think dogs in little sweaters are so adorable. Plus, the furry friends get cold too! I don’t have a dog, but will show this list to my sister who got one recently!
I hope she finds it helpful!
Great tips for traveling with your dog! They definitely take some extra planning.
Yes they do!
What a lucky pup! You must be the best dog mom ever.
Awwww, thanks!
This is an impressive list for sure! I wish I had this list last summer haha!
The learning curve can be pretty steep!
I am going to send this blog to my brother. He takes his dog everywhere he goes. These tips are super cool and I am sure he has not thought of all of them. Thanks for sharing.
Thank YOU for sharing!!
These are great items to bring for a dog friendly road trip!
Thank you!
Great ideas. The wipes and window shades are things people don’t always think of when planning to take their pets with them. Thank you.
The shades make a huge difference in my car!
I dont have a dog but I’ve traveled with my cat several times. These are great items.
Thank you!
Good list! Look at those cozy and happy fur babies!
so many things I never would have thought about!
We are constantly thinking about new things to bring or adjust to make the trips go smoother.
What a great list! I don’t have a dog anymore, and I do not travel with my cats. But I know how much work and prep it takes to go places with your fur babies. This will definitely give pet owners a great place to start.
Thank you!
Great list! You have such a heart for the pets!
Thank you! That means a lot 🙂
These are great suggestions. We are so lucky our dog travels well! We just went on a 7 hour roadtrip and he is so content in the back. 🙂
That makes bringing them with so much easier when they travel well!
This is an exhaustive, super cool list, tips and tricks.
Wonderful, comprehensive list! Sadly my old man is not traveling any longer, but will pass along to my other canine owning friends!
Thank you for passing it on!
I’ve just started to use the dog seat belt/harness during our car trips, and it’s been great! Very useful list.
Thanks! The seat belts are super useful 🙂
This is a great list! I’m wanting to bring my pup with me when I travel next since she has such high anxiety when I leave her. I haven’t known even where to start with planning a trip with her, this is so helpful!
Glad you found it useful! The Tips to Vacation with your Dog post should help with your planning stages too 🙂
We love to take road trips with our pet too. These are great & helpful suggestions.Thank you for sharing.
It’s funny how the simplest things can be overlooked. I’ve never thought of getting a liner to make post-pet trips easier. Thanks for the tip!
No problem! There are so many products that come out constantly it is easy to forget what exists!
Great list and such a good reminder for those that go on road trips, I wish I could take Layla more often but I do try to do different dog parks and make sure I have most of your list with me also.
I’m sure she loves the dog parks just as much as other places!
I think a lot of people overlook the importance of using dog seatbelts. Not only does it keep them safely in the back to keep them from coming up and distracting the driver, but they are also SO important in the event of an accident. You just have to consider why we were OUR seatbelts to realize why we should have theirs secured as well… they could be thrown from the vehicle, get loose and take off in an unknown area, etc. While no one plans for an accident (they are called an ‘accident’ for a reason), you can take steps to make sure that you pet has a better chance of making it out safely through either using a seatbelt or a properly secured travel crate.
Very true! They are great safety tools 🙂
It is always better to put the time into careful planning than to be caught off guard. Me, I overthink everything to death.
I do too! Always so worried I will forget something!
I LOVE those coats! They look so sweet but practical too. I aim to get a harness of our cat Toulouse (a Supakit like Nala wears at 1Bike1World) but much as I would like to a can’t see him in a coat * sigh *
Pups are part of the family. How CAN you leave them behind!?!?!!?
I used to have a cat that was harness trained and he would travel with us too!
This is a great list, I think I need to get some window shades. I always keep a copy of my dogs’ rabies vaccinations since some parks and campgrounds require them.
Very good point!
What a great list of supplies, to keep pups happy! My dog, who died years ago of old age, loved to travel. I sure miss her.